How Does Visibility Impact Motorcycle Accidents in Rome, Georgia?

Posted on October 7, 2017October 4, 2017

Anytime you hop on a bike or motorcycle and head onto the road, you are facing a risk of being in an accident. Because your vehicle is smaller than a traditional car, you are much less likely to be noticed by drivers. This means the chances of you getting in a motorcycle accident increase significantly. To improve your safety when riding a motorcycle in Rome, Georgia, you need to make sure you are visible. You are much more likely to be cut off by larger vehicles or have vehicles pull into your path if you are a biker. It is detrimental to your safety to make sure you are visible so you will stand out in traffic on your bike and avoid motorcycle accidents. If you are not visible, you are much more likely to get cut off, have vehicles pull out in front of you, or be run off the road by other vehicles. While many people blame motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles on human error, that is not necessarily the case. Many bike crashes are the result of poor visibility resulting from how the brain and eyes function.

What Causes Motorcycle Accidents in Rome, Georgia?

According to studies conducted by various medical institutions, motorcycle accidents are often the result of things happening faster than the brain and eyes can function and then process. We only visualize a small area at any given time. A motorcycle and its rider take up a much smaller area than other vehicles, so if the bike is moving quickly, it can be completely missed by other drivers. From a significant distance, only a small part of the vision of the driver will be occupied by you on your bike. That image might not have time to adequately register in the driver’s brain before you reach the immediate vicinity of the drivers and other vehicles.

Reach out to the Bader Law Firm to discuss personal injury claims for motorcycle accidents.

It is important to understand the science of processing images and realize that a human brain only has the ability to see what it understands. As an example, you are unable to see everything that is around you right now, so you cannot expect a driver to see everything that is around him or her. There are human limitations that cannot be changed as well as various limitations and capabilities that come into play. Many motorcycle accidents occur because how people see and what they can see. Even the most attentive driver can miss something important and cause an accident unintentionally. So while the driver of a vehicle should be attentive and check twice for bikes, bikers should also do everything possible to make themselves more visible so the odds of a crash can be reduced even more. By making yourself conspicuous, you are making yourself more visible and reducing your odds of being in a crash significantly.

Here are some effective tips for making yourself more visible when you are riding a bike:

To make drivers aware of your presence, honk your horn to let drivers know when you are approaching.

Properly position yourself in the lane to put a cushion between you and other vehicles.

Multiple bikes are easier to see than a single bike, so ride in groups whenever possible.

Wear gear that offers high visibility. Wear a brightly colored jacket or vest that includes reflectors on them. Reflective safety vests are inexpensive and effective. Hot pink, lime green, neon yellow, or bright orange will get you some attention. If your jacket or clothing is not as bright as you would like, you can always add reflective tape on the chest and back for added visibility at night.

Add a modulator for your brake light and headlight. They can make the light appear to flash and will switch your headlight from high beam to low so you will stand out when you are riding your bike around other vehicles.

Wear a brightly colored and highly visible helmet. Bright colors and unusual designs will help you get noticed much more quickly.

Keep an eye on your speed. If you get too fast too quickly, drivers will have a smaller window of opportunity to see you. Your odds of being in a crash increase significantly when you are riding your bike at a faster speed.

When you are shifting lanes, do so carefully and watch for drivers. Keep in mind that drivers won’t see you and your motorcycle as quickly as they will other vehicles. While drivers need to be watching for you and look twice, you need to be watching for drivers and other vehicles as well.

Ride predictably. Don’t swerve in and around vehicles. Don’t ride on the line. Put yourself in the center of the lane so you will be noticed and in an area so cars won’t pass too closely by you. You want to be noticed.

You should do everything that you possibly can to make yourself and your bike stand out and be more visible. Always adhere to traffic laws and make sure you use your signals and horn (if needed) so drivers will know where you are headed. Adhere to any traffic signs and signals. You should always be responsible for your own safety. You can significantly reduce your chances of being in a crash.

What Should Victims of Rome, Georgia Motorcycle Accidents Do Next?

Even the safest riders can find themselves in a motorcycle accident. If you have suffered from a personal injury after you have been in an accident, then your next step should be to reach out to a personal injury lawyer with experience in car accident law. The attorneys at the Bader Law Firm have years of experience representing the interests of Rome, Georgia residents. They can use their knowledge of past motorcycle accidents to determine whether you are owed compensation from the negligent driver responsible for your collision.